I noticed the popularity of the thread concerning the drop in petrol prices, but does anyone have any tips on how to save petrol apart from the usual, dont over accelerate amd turn off A/C etc...
Please dont suggest 'dont drive at all'.
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Actually someone pointed out recently that accelerating rapidly to cruising speed at the start of a long stretch is no more wasteful than a slow acceleration. Keep a good distance from the car ahead, that way you'll need to brake less. Take your foot off the accelerator well ahead of hazards such as corners rather than braking at the last minute. It just takes a bit of forward observation. You might also be able to slip stream vehicles but I suspect you would have to be dangerously close for it to work. Turning the engine off, and declutching down long hills is possible but dangerous and not recommended.
Facetious answers: share someone elses car, don't befriend gravitationally challenged people, don't befriend anyone, let tail gaters push you, always drive with the wind, only drive down hill, but a grappling hook and rope, tie the rope to your car, hook the grappling hook to a car doing where you want to go, magnetise your car and place it next to a car going where you want to go, park on top of a lorry going where you want to go.
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Facetious answers: don't befriend gravitationally challenged people...
Empty all the carp from the boot - that extra weight is a killer! - don't drive with the windows open (drag), don't leave thew roof rack on (drag), turn off the engine if you KNOW you are going to be stoped for longer than a minute (traffic jams), inflate your tyres to proper pressure (even go up + 10%), keep a log of fill-ups etc, ensure your car is properly tuned.
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Empty all the carp from the boot - that extra weight
But how many people have a boot full of fish?
Sorry I couldn\'t resist that one.
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Think about using brakes less.
Brakes are the biggest waster of fuel.
Look ahead and back off 1 second before you would have braked.
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Oh yes, and if you really really need to save petrol, remove the surplus seats and fittings.
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If you really need to save petrol, buy a diesel.....
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funny you should say that, Leif ...
forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=776885
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* Drive as smoothly as possible. Imagine that you have a nervous and frail passenger.
* Don't use more revs than you need.
* Don't labour the engine by driving in too high a gear.
* Minimize idling time.
* Don't let the engine idle when cold; drive off immediately on start-up.
* Avoid short trips.
That's what I do to get long-term 26 mpg out of a 3.2 MB and 30 mpg out of a 2.8 Golf VR6, which I think are respectable numbers (I'd be interested in those of others).
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Buy a car with a trip computer showing your MPG second by second - it's scares the pants off you and your right foot gets very light
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Not being stupid here, but I was looking thru the hand book of my Golf and it said that fuel consupmtion was increased by having the rear heater on. I think that they said that it used a litre an hour.
Can this be true?
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yes, it can be (though I doubt it's a litre an hour...)
The heater needs power to work, and that power comes from somewhere ... ie, the alternator. The alternator drains engine power - though you wouldn't feel it in normal driving.
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Some vague recollection is that your rear screen heater takes about as much power as lights on dip.
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Yup, sensible handbooks advise you to turn the rear-window heater off as soon as it has done the job.
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One good tip I heard was to drive as if you suspected that the brakes didn't work very well, ie try never to get into a situation where you had to use them seriously.
It is also worth bearing in mind that it is the brake pedal that wastes petrol. Every time you touch the brakes you are throwing away momentum that has been built up with precious petrol.
Pressing the brake pedal is a bit like jettisoning 1/2 gallon of fuel over the side.
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D'oh! C'mon Trevor - engage brain before opening mouth.
Check to see name of originator of thread.
Is a "how do I make my car go faster" lad going to be interested in "back off" advice?
Maybe he is interested in 'magic' gadgets?
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Run the vehicle low of fuel 'till the warning light comes on.
Drive to the nearest petrol station...FILL the tank FULL...pay for it with CASH,not plastic...count it out nice & slow...think about what you COULD be treating yourself to instead!!
WARNING!! Only try this only once, as it can have long lasting, depressing side effects!!
VB
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The best article I have ever read on this subject can be found by visiting: www.sexydog.freeserve.co.uk/driven/economy.html
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Keep the car well serviced and consider changing the oil and filter, also fuel and air filter more regularly than the reccomended interval.
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